[NAGDU] Leading Music with a Guide Dog

Fri Feb 9 22:57:49 UTC 2018

Thank you all for weighing in on this!

My roommate was able to fix my hands-free leash, so I think I will
give that a try this Sunday.  We had to put it on the smallest loop
there is!  Bill is definitely a Velcro dog.  He doesn't mind being
left alone if he can't see me, but it's still hard for him to stay in
a down stay for a while while I'm moving around without him.
Eventually, he either lays on my feet or wanders around until I scold
him for not staying, which for him, is exactly what he wants:
attention from me.  :)

I think if he knows he is attached to me, he will behave just fine.
He is generally a very chill dog.  Only situations like this can be
difficult for him.

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On 2/9/18, Rachel Grider via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I direct my church choir and I also lead the music for the congregation
> every Sunday. Are usually just tired Demi to the piano or to a chair next to
> me so that she is close enough that I am aware of what she is doing but does
> not get in the way of my movements. My dog is very used to this, so we
> really haven’t had a problem. I also have a portable crate that I will put
> her in during some performances, and she can just stay backstage and be
> fine. Let us know what you end up doing!
>
>> On Feb 9, 2018, at 09:06, Tami Jarvis via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Julie,
>>
>> Both of my poodles are velcro dogs like yours. I've done a bit of training
>> to tone them down, but it's not really a problem for me since I don't do
>> things that require walking away from them much.
>>
>> Ruffwear does make an adjustable hands-free leash, so you can fit it
>> around your waist. I don't like the over-the-shoulder hands-free style, so
>> I use the Ruffwear one, mostly for leisure walks using my cane. Mine is
>> long, but if I recall, they have shorter lengths, too. I think it's called
>> the Ridgeline. The Roamer leash also has the adjustable hands-free
>> feature, and it stretches so the dog can move around more without pulling
>> hard on your waist. I don't know if that would be a good thing or a bad
>> one while you're directing and want to move around.
>>
>> That's about all I know. Congratulations on getting closer to your goals!
>>
>> Tami
>>
>>> On 02/08/2018 03:17 PM, Julie McGinnity via NAGDU wrote:
>>> Hi friends,
>>> This week I'm filling in for our music director at church.  It's such
>>> a great experience, but my dog and I need to find a way that will
>>> allow me to conduct the choir comfortably that works for him as well.
>>> Since I think I may want to do this as a career, I want to have a
>>> method in place that makes me and Bill happy.
>>> My dog doesn't react well when he can see me but not get to me.
>>> Putting him on tie-down, for example, while I go across the room and
>>> rehearse with a group makes him a little crazy.  It got to the point
>>> at which I had to keep him in my professor's office while I rehearsed
>>> with my opera class in grad school.  He used to bark and do everything
>>> and anything so that I would return to him.  Now, he has gotten a lot
>>> better over the years.  Last night at rehearsal, I put him under a
>>> chair right next to my friend who held the leash for me.  He was in
>>> the first row, maybe five feet from where I stood conducting.  He did
>>> well enough, and my friend had no problem with him, until about
>>> half-way through the rehearsal when he got up and decided he would
>>> come back to me.
>>> So, you can understand why I may not feel comfortable putting him with
>>> someone else or on tie-down.  On the other hand, I don't want to be
>>> stepping on his leash either.  I don't feel as free to move when I am
>>> on the dog's leash.
>>> Have any of you ever directed choirs or other musical groups?  What
>>> did you do with your dog?  What would you do?  Would you take the risk
>>> and leave the dog with the friend under the chair?  I have a
>>> hands-free leash, but it's too large for my waste.  I would have to
>>> fix it up a little to fit me, and I'm afraid I would look ridiculous
>>> up there with a leash around my waste.  Hopefully, I can buy a
>>> hands-free leash that is as unabtrussive as possible and fits a very
>>> small waste size.  :)
>>> Thanks for any ideas you might have!
>>> O, and Billy Bob appreciates this too!
>>
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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7